Valeria reappeared in a desolate stretch of wilderness, far from Akarios Island. The moment her feet touched the ground, she stumbled, gasping for breath as the weight of her injuries took its toll. Her body was broken, blood dripped from deep wounds. The once-powerful dark energy that had surrounded her flickered weakly, barely holding on.
She collapsed to her knees, clutching her side where a particularly deep gash had opened. Pain surged through her, a reminder of the Hellfire missile that had struck her face and the relentless assault from the AC-130. The fear she had felt during the battle lingered, gnawing at her pride. She had never been pushed to the brink like this before, and the thought of her near-defeat filled her with a burning rage.
